Check issuing machine



July 25, 1933.v R, H, HELSEL 1,919,652

CHECK ISSUING MACHINE Filed May 21, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 25, 1933. R. H. HELsEL CHECK ISSUING MACHINE Filed May 21, 1931 2 Sheetsl-Sheet 2 4770 WE1/J. l

Patented July 25, 1933 UNITED STATES' PATENT OFFICE mism conroaa'rrorr,

mvama BEUBEN H. OF LONG ISLAND CITY, NEW YORK, ASSIGN'OB TO GENmAL OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, A. CORPORATION OF PENN- v om IssUrNG nem-s Application iled lay Si, 1931. Serial lo. 538,928.

'This invention relates to a ticket machine andparticularlya machine 1n which a ticket is always presented for manual removal, the removal of the' presented ticket effecting operation of the machine to project a subsequent ticket.

In soda `fountains, restaurants, or the like, it is sometimes desirable that the custhe foremost one and presenting itin posi' tion to be removed. Machines of this character generally depend for their operation upon the provision of a feeler or the like which normally rests upon a projecting ticket and which upon removal of the ticket is free to move to a position starting a cycle of operation. v

It is the broadobject of the presentinvention to provide an improved machine of this character which is of simple construction and positive in operation.

.Since machines of this cla depend upon the presence of\a ticket in projected position to maintain them against operation they ordinarily run continuously upon' the occurrence of any failure of the ticket strip feed to operate or upon failure of a supply. Since the machines are preferably provided with registers it is undesirable that the register shall continue to operate under thecondition's just outlined. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an arrangement wherein the register will operate only when the machine is acting in normal fashion.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a machine in which the ticket is properly fed to avoid jamming.

Further objects of the invention relating primarily to details of construction will be- .come apparent from vthe following description read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

. Fig. 1 is a vertical section ofthe machine showing substantially what is visible when vthe left side plate of the machine is removed;

. Fig. 2 is a left side elevation of the machine; and

Fig. 3 is a right side elevation of the same.

The machine as ordinarily constructed would consist of a housing for the mechanical elements supported by a suitable cabinet, counter, or the like. The housing whlch may take numerous forms comprises in the present instance a right hand' side `plate 2 and a left hand side plate 4 suitably' connected by transverse bolts and spacers, these side plates all serving to supportia suitable top plate.

lThe ticket strip which may be fed from a roll or folded suppl passes upwardly into theunachine througlvi a guide 6 of one of the types enerally used in ticket machines. This chec strip, as will be pointed out later, is suitably fed along the guide, being severed at the upper portion of the machi'ne so that a check finally rests in the position indicated in Fig. 1 at T projecting outwardly from a delivery ide 8.

On this check projecting m the delivery guide rests a linger 10 carried by a trans- Verse shaft 12, the guide being suitably cut away in the path of the finger so that if the check is removed the finger and shaft may rotate in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1. The righthand end of shaft 12 carries a crank disc 14 to which is pivoted a -link 16 urged downwardly by a spring 18. This link carries a cam following roller 20 engageable by a cam 22 on the main shaft 24, the lower end of the link being guided by the provision of a bifurcated end thereof embracing the shaft. The spring 18 serves to rock: the shaft 12 when the ticket is removed. The lefthand end of shaft ,l2 carries another crank disc 26 which is connected by a link 28 with a rocking lever 30 pivotedpat 32 to the frame and ar ranged so that one end thereof engag a pin 34 carried b a lever 36 to revent clockwise rotation o this lever un er the action of a spring 40, the lever 36 being journalled upon a shaft 38 mounted in the frame. This lever 36 carries a pin. 37 arranged to engage an arm 39 secured to the shaft 38. This arm 39 is normally urged against the pin 37 by a spring 41. It will thus be seen that as the lever 36 rocks-under the action of spring 40 it will carry the arm 39 and the shaft 38 with it. On the other hand, when the lever 36 is moved against the action of spring 40 the arm 39 and the shaft may retain their previous positions. It may be noted that spring 41 is connected to the lever 36 and accordingly does not act to oppose the pull exerted by the spring 40 on the lever 36.

The shaft 38 carries an arm 42 to which is pivoted the switch member 44 arranged to close the circuit through the driving motor 48 by engaging contacts 46. This switch is of the type disclosed in my prior a plicatipmSerial Number 459,625, filed une 7, l 30. i

' The arm 42 besides serving to actuate the switch operates the counter 50. This is effected by the engagement of an arm carried py the counter within the forked end of the ever.

The shaft of motor 48 carries a pinion 52 meshing with the gear 54 connected to a shaft which carries a pinion 56 meshing with the gear 58, thus effecting a reduction from the motor speed. The gear 58 is journalled upon the shaft 24 and carries a tooth 60 arranged to engage the pawl 62 pivoted to the cam 64 which is secured to the shaft 24.

Journalled on the shaft 24 is the member 66 be made for details of construction. For

the present case it may be pointed out that engagement of the hooked lever 36 with pin 68 effects a disengagement of the clutch so that ear 58 does not serve to drive shaft 24.

l On t e other hand when the pin 68 is released the member 66 moves under the action of a spring-causing the pawl 62 to move inwardly to a position to engage the tooth or lug 60 whereupon a driving connection between the gear and the shaft is provided.

Secured to the shaft 24 is a feed wheel 70 provided on a part of its peripher with a serrated portion 72 of greater ra ius, this serrated vportion being adapted to engage .the check strip` within the guide 6 pressing it against the backing roller 73 and effecting its movement along the guide. The serrated .portion is active in progressing the check stri the smooth portion of the feed wheel y ing of less radius so as to fail to engage the strip and permit it to remain at rest during cutting.

The shaft 24 also carries a cam 74 which by engagement with a cam following roller 76 serves to rock the lever 78 to the end of which is pivoted a link 80 having a strip feeding pin 82 at its lower end. A spring 84 normally urges the follower into engagement with the cam and also holdsthe pin 82 within the evenly spaced perforations in the cheek strip.

The link 80 and the feed wheel 70 together serve to feed the ticket strip. It is to be noted that by the provision of the feed wheel closely adjacent the cutting knives, the movement imparted to the strip as an entirety is by a pulling rather than a pushing action whereby jamming between the pin 82 and the position of the knives is avoided.

The feed wheel 70 is provided with cam members 86 engaging a roller 88 carried by the lever 90- so as to impart oscillatory movements to the lever, and through it reciprocatory movements to the knife 92 which is engaged by the upper end of the lever. The parts are so positioned that the knife is moved to effect cutting when the check strip is at rest. The knife 92 is held downwardly by the pressure of a roller 94 under which it passes, the roller being urged downwardly by springs 96. i

The cam 64 engages the following roller 98 carried by the rearward end of a lever 100 pivoted to theframe and urged in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 2 by a spring 104. When moved in a counterclockwise direction by the action of cam 64 the lever 100 is adapted to engage the pin 102 carried by the lever 36. The lever 100 carries a pin 106 arranged to move upwardly during the cycle ofy operation to hold the arm 39 and shaft 38 in a clockwise position, as viewed in Fig. 2, against the action of spring 41.

There is provided a hand operated lock to prevent operation of the machine at suitable times. This takes the form of a mechanically operable lever 108 having a notched end 110 engageable with the pin 112 on the forward end of the lever 30 the upstanding arm of lever 108 being urged rearwardly by a spring 114. This engagement of pin 112 within notch 110 serves toy prevent lifting of the lever 30 under the action of link 28.

, The elements of the machine having now been described its operation will be readily understood. When at rest the parts occupy the positions illustrated in the drawings, a check T being located in the guide 8 and serving to hold the finger 10 in the position illustrated. It is to be noted that at this time the clutch is disengaged and the switch opened. The link 80 is in its lowermost p osition so that its pin 82 engages a hole in the check stri After the chec is now removed the fin er 10 is moved ,downwardly under the actlon of spring 18. After thls occurs the shaft 12 rocks lifting, through the medium of link 28, the locking lever 30 so that as soon as pin 34 is cleared thereby the lever 36 rocks 1n a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 2 carrying the arm 39 with it and locating the shaft 38 to close the switch. The motor is thus started and rotation of shaft 24 initiated. :As the shaft 24 commences to revolve the knife 92 is first retracted to provide a clear passage for the check strip. The lever 76 is then permitted to rock under the action of spring 84 to start the upward movement of the check strip by the engagement therewith of pin 82. As the link 80 moves upwardly its curved portion engages the base 81 of the notch in the guide member. 83 so thatit is rocked rearwardly disengaging the pin 82 from the ticket strip. The ticket strip is however further fed by the serrated edge 72. Accordingly while the pin 82 serves initially to insure proper alignment of the check strip so that it will ultimately properly lie in the path of knife 92, the major part of the feedlng is accomwheel 70. As the shaft 24 completes its rotation the lever 90 is moved to effect cutting of the strip, this cutting taking place as a smooth portion of feed wheel comes into opposition with the check strip. When this rotation nears completion, the lever 7 8 is again rocked downwardly against the tension of spring 84 and the pin 82 drops into engagement with the strip either entering a hole therein at this time or being located in position so that during its movement in the next cycle of operation itiwill engage a hole therein.

During this period of rotation the clutch I5 remains engaged and the circuit through the motor closed. As the rotation nears its com' letion the high part of cam 64 rocks the ever 100 so that its forward end moves upwardly. At this time the lever 36 is lo- 50 cated in an extreme clockwise position under the action of spring 40 so that the member 39 is out of the path of in 106 which accordingly moves upward y in front of it. During the latter part of the rocking of the i5 lever 100 it engages the pin 102, moving the hooked end of arm 36 into the path of pin 68. By reason of this the pin 68. is engaged and the member 66 held against movement so that the pawl 62 is thrown l0 out of en a ement with the tooth 60. At the end o t e rotation just before positive stoppage takes place the roller 98 rides off the raised ortion of the cam 64 and pin 106 clears t e member 39. Accordingly the L5 spring 41 acts to open the motor circuit plished by the serrated portion of the feed thereby stopping the motor. It is to be noted that overrun of the motor effects no action merely resulting in an indefinite position of the tooth 60. By reason of the rovision of pin 106 on member 100 it wil be seen that the motor will not be stopped by opening of the switch until the dise agement of the clutch and movement o the shaft 24 to its final position is assured.

During the operation of the machine the finger 10 is lifted by the action of cam 22 engaging the roller 20 thereby preventing the linger from interfering with the feed of the strip. It is to be noted that this action may occur4 without interference with 3 the lever 30 which overlies the pin 34 because of the provision of the slotted connection between the ring 28 and the pin on disc 26.

The counter 50 is operated to register the 85 issuance of a check upon the closure of the switch 44. If there occurs a failure of. tickets resulting in the continued lowered position of the finger 10 the switch remains closed by reason of the fact that while the lever 100 is rockin upwardly against pin 102, nevertheless t e switch is prevented from opening by engagement of pin 106 in front of member 39. In other words, even though upon each rotation of the shaft the lever 36 rocks, nevertheless this rocking does not permit the spring 41 to rock the shaft 38. As. soon as the forward end of lever moves downwardly away from in 102 the lever 36 again moves outwardly ause 10 of the raised position of rocking lever 30 and accordingly the pin 37 retains the member 39 in rearward position. Since by reason of the above the switch is never permitted to open during this abnormal operation it follows that the counter does not re 'sten t is to be noted that the -cam 22 releases roller 20 before roller 98 rides olf the high point of cam 64.

It will be obvious that numerous variations may`be made in details of construction without departing from thespirit of the invention as defined lil the following claims. In these claims the term check is to be broadly construed to include tickets as well as'what are popularly known as checks.

a What I claim and desire to protect by Letters patent is: f i

1. A check issuing machine comprising means for guiding a check strip; means for severing a check from the strip; means for presenting a severed check in delivering position; means for effecting a cycle of operation of the machine, said last means includin a motor, a switch controlling the operatlon of the motor, and a member arranged to engage a check in delivering position and effective upon its removal to initiate a cycle of operation; and means for 13 moving the last named member out of the path of the advancing end of the strip during the operation of the machine.

2. A check issuing machine comprising means for guiding a check strip; means for severing a check from the strip; means for presenting a severed check in delivering position; means for effecting a cycle of operation of the machine, said last means including a motor, a switch controlling the operation of the motor, and a member arranged to en age a check in delivering position` ande ective upon its removal to initiate a cycle of operations; means for normally opening the switch at the end of a cycle of operation; and means for moving the last named member out of the path of the advancing end of the strip during the operation of the machine, said member being released to engage a check prior to the time of opening of the switch.

3. A check issuing machine comprising means for guiding a check strip; means for severing a check from the strip; means for presenting a severed check in delivering position; means for effecting a cycle of operation of the machine, said last means including a motor, a switch controlling the operation of the motor, and a member arranged to engage a check in delivering position and effective upon its removal to initiate a cycle of operations; means for normally opening the switch at the end of a cycle of operation; and means for moving te last named member out of the path of the advancing end of the strip during the operation of the machine, said member being released to engage a check prior to the time of opening of the switch, the switch being opened if a check is in position to be engaged by the released member, but remaining closed if no check is in such position.

4;. A check issuing machine comprising means for guidin lr a check strip; means for severing, a check lfrom the strip; means for presenting a severed check in delivering position; means for effecting a cycle of operation of themacliine, said last means including a motor, a switch controlling the operation of the motor, and a member effective upon removal of a check from delivering position to initiate a cycle of operation; said machine being adapted to operate continuously when said member is not controlled by aticket, and the switch being arranged to remain closed throughout such continuous operation.

5. A check issuing machine comprising means for guiding a check strip; means for severing a check from the strip; means for presenting a severed check in delivering position; means for effecting a cycle of operation of the machine, said last means including a motor, a switch controlling the operaof operation;

tion of the motor, and a member arranged `means for rendering the member ineffective to initiate a cycle of operation upon removal of a cheek.

6. A check issuing machine comprising means for guiding a check strip; means for severin a check from the strip; means for presenting a severed check in delivering position; means for effecting a cycle of operation of the machine, said last means including a motor, a switch controlling the operation of the motor, and a member arranged to engage a check in delivering position and effective upon its removal to initiate a cycle and manually controlled means for restraining the member against movement upon removal of a check.

7. A check issuing machine comprising means for guidin a check strip; means for severing a check rom the strip; and means for feeding the strip along the guiding means; said feeding means comprising a rotary feed wheel and a reciprocatory member engageable with holes in the strip.

8. A check issuing machine comprising means for guiding a check strip; means for severing a check from the strip; and means for feeding the strip along the guiding means; said feeding means comprising a rotary feed wheel and a reciprocatory member engageable with holes in the strip, the reciprocatory member first engaging and moving the strip and the rotary feed wheel thereafter engaging and moving the strip.

9. A check issuing machine comprising means for guiding a check strip;'means for severing a check from the strip; and means for feeding the strip valong the guiding means; said feeding means comprising a rotary feed wheel and a reciprocatory memr 4 ber engageable with holes in the strip, the reciprocatory member first. engaging an movin the strip and the rotary feed wheel thereafter engaging and movin the strip, said reciprocating member releasing the strip after its lengagement; by the rotary feed wheel.

10. A check issuing machine comprising -means for guiding a check strip; means for adapted to operate continuously when said member is not controlled by a ticket, and the element being arranged to remain stationary throughout such continuous operation.

11. A check issuing machine comprisinga `check strip feeding mechanism; a cutting mechanism for severing the end portion of said strip; means whereby the act of removing the severed portion of the strip from the machine causes said strip to be fed forwardly and another section of the same to be severed; and an element normally operation. REUBEN H. HELSEL. 

